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Ratio examined the ring in the box once more. A beautiful gold ring with a leaf shaped aventurine gem and benitoite gem joint with an intricate leaf pattern together. He watched as the the gem together shone beautifully under his bedroom lamp, as if they were meant to be together.
He packed the ring into the bag. It was going to be a long journey but he hopes it is worthwhile. He does not know if he would be able to find him on this planet he is going to but the Nameless had told him that they saw someone similar to the one he was looking for in planet Irini.
He went to the kitchen to make a simple and quick night snack for himself before taking a bath and heading to sleep. Upon checking the fridge for ingredients he could use, he noticed how in his freezer, there is still a sealed cup at the back. He took the cup and realised there’s a note that says:
“Remember to eat it! I made it specially for you. - A.”
The cup contains tiramisu. Not just any tiramisu, one that’s specially made by Aventurine who made it curated to his taste. Deciding against making a new batch of snacks, he decided to eat the Tiramisu. He sat down with a metal dessert spoon. He slowly scooped a portion and ate it. He smiled upon tasting the sweetness and bitterness of it, it was not too sweet or bitter, it was just right.
“What is this?”
“Tiramisu! I figured, that one of the ways to repay you for your help in this mission is to try making you something.”
Aventurine said happily, presenting him a small bowl of a not too well made Tiramisu.
“You didn’t have to destroy my kitchen to repay me for this mission.”
Aventurine rolled his eyes.
“Tiramisu does not require baking and cooking, it’s just whisking. Now, doctor. Please give it a try and let me know your verdict.”
“It tastes good, Gambler.”
Ratio said out loud as he finished the last scoop and put down the spoon. Aventurine was not the best cook, however he was a lot better than the first time he had moved in where he had almost set Ratio’s kitchen on fire. Ratio had taught him on how to cook on the weekends, the first dish that the gambler had cooked was a barely edible scrambled egg and pita bread. Overtime, he got alot better and made food that was delicious enough to look forward to coming home.
The gambler was not an easy housemate to live with but his presence did make his home more lively and sometimes it felt like they were a real married couple.
Except that they were not. They were simply pretending to be married for one of Aventurine’s missions in exchange, the gambler had promised to provide him with top secret information about the Stellarons.
“You want me to pretend to be your husband? How preposterous..”
Ratio said, looking at the gambler with a puzzling look.
“Please Doctor? It will only just be for a year and the mission will be over, we’ll go back to our own lives.”
“Do you know how ridiculous your request sounds?Why don’t you ask Ms Topaz or Ms Jade to pretend to be your significant other? I am sure they are more suitable.”
Ratio suggested as he took the resources he needed and quickly made his way back to the office with Aventurine catching up to him.
“The mission can’t involve Jade inside because the people I am dealing with knows who she is and they must not know she is involved. Topaz is handling a big project in Jairo VI.”
Aventurine explained as he stopped in front of Ratio.
“Move, Gambler. I have a class to teach.”
“Consider helping me out? If you do this for me, I’ll provide you with the stellaron research that you are trying to get your hands on.”
Ratio sighed as he rubbed his temples. The request felt ridiculous and pointless, yet the gambler was offering something valuable in this deal.”
The gambler had kept his word at the end of their ‘marriage.’ Yet to Ratio, the stellaron research did not matter too much to him but the person who had left at the end of their one year long ‘marriage.’
Ratio leaned back against his bathtub. He was not sure if he would be able to find Aventurine on planet Irini. The gambler had disappeared after the mission in Penacony. Ratio remembered returning to his room only to find out his body is missing and according to Topaz and Jade, he is presumed dead. He swore he felt his heart sank with despair.
He refused to believe them, there was no way the gambler is dead. He refused to believe them until Aventurine’s corpse was shown to him. He maintained his composure and waited until they were gone to find some clues of where Aventurine could have gone.
He was about to put his favorite rubber ducky into the tub when he spotted another rubber duck with a fedora next to his own. It was the rubber duck Aventurine bought, claiming that it looks lonely and needs a companion.
“Gambler, did you change my toothbrush?” Ratio said as he watched Aventurine unpacked more things.
“Doctor, we are married now. We should try out things that couples do! I got us a couple of toothbrushes, towels, slippers and look!”
Aventurine said holding a rubber ducky with a fedora. He squeezed ducky, making it let out a cute squeak.
“I got your rubber ducky a friend so he won’t be lonely.”
“Gambler, we are only married for a year. This is unnecessary and I did not invite you to move in with me.”
“Come on, doc. Even if we are faking a marriage, we should go all out so that people are convinced that we ARE married. That’s how we can succeed in the mission!”
Aventurine said, taking out a two pairs of fluffy duck slippers and handing one to Ratio. “ I saw these slippers and immediately thought of you, so I got us a pair.”
Ratio sighed, resigning to the gambler’s antics and told himself that as long as the gambler does not start changing everything in his house. He is fine with it.
Ratio dried his hair, put on his bathrobe and slipped on the fluffy duck slippers, as he walked out of the bathroom and into his bedroom. Many times he wondered, why does he want to find Aventurine? Why can’t he accept that the gambler might be dead and just move on with his life?
Is it because he loved him but never got to tell him?
He had thought about these questions many times. He never told Aventurine how he never wanted to end it with him even though it was a fake marriage and that the mission had been completed.
The time spent with Aventurine had been one of the happiest and most lively days in his life. Everyday, returning home to someone waiting for him felt different to returning home to an empty house. The first few months, it took time for Ratio to adjust to living with someone else in the house. The first two months they had their arguments, one was because Aventurine came home late, reeking of alcohol stench and Ratio had enough and prevented him from leaving the house to drink.
Subsequently, it got better. Sometimes, Aventurine returned home earlier than him and even prepared his bath for him, while he prepared dinner. They would also watch TV shows or movies at night until they both were tired and retired for the night. Other times, they may play a few rounds of chess and sometimes opting to go out for night walks together.
Then the day finally came, Aventurine’s mission was completed and it was time for their divorce. Aventurine had cooked them a big meal that day to celebrate their last day. He had also promised to move out from his house the next day as he has already packed his things and the information about the Stellaron will be mailed to him within a week.
Ratio lay down in his bed, deciding against reading tonight so that he could wake up early to catch the shuttle to Irini.
—-
Ratio admitted, if he was not here to search for Aventurine, he would come here for sight seeing and visit the art museums. He saw a beautiful cathedral as well, even though he knew Aventurine would not be there, he went inside to have a look.
It made him remember the time they witnessed a wedding happening one time where they were out waiting for Aventurine's client to meet them at a cafe.
“ Hey Doctor, would you ever consider get married?”
Aventurine asked, sipping his coffee as they watched the bride and the groom entering the wedding car outside.
“Never considered.”
“Why not, Doctor?”
“I have more academic aspirations to pursue than to think of such things.”
He answered, not looking up from the book he is reading. After a while, he looked up and noticed how the gambler was still watching from the window where the bride and groom were.
“Do you wish to get married?”
Ratio asked
“Marriage is not an option available for me. After all, Diamond would not approve of me marrying, it would put me in a disadvantageous position. Even so…who would want to marry an Avgin or a Sigonian slave…”
Aventurine replied, a hint of sadness in his voice.
“If I do marry…maybe I can do it in secret, maybe I’ll throw an extravagant wedding in another planet and make sure the guests are happy…”
Ratio was about to enquire more when his awaited client entered the cafe.
He had spent the entire day asking locals if they had seen anyone that looks like him, many of them said no and some were very kind to direct him to people who could help him. In the end, he resorted to taking a break. He sat down and took out his sketchbook, deciding to sketch instead of reading to keep his mind occupied. He chose the beautiful peacock sculpture in front of him as his subject
His sketchbooks had been filled with quick observational drawings of the sculptures he encountered here, the scenery and many drawings of Aventurine. He tried his best to remember how the gambler looked, to make sure he never forgets him.
Perhaps it is also a way of him telling himself that the gambler is possibly still alive and he should keep searching for him. Placing his pencil down, he accidentally knocked over his bottle of water. He cursed under his breath for being so careless.
As he reached out to grab the bottle that fell, he noticed something shiny. He grabbed both the bottle and the item. His eyes widened upon realizing what it is.
It was a scroll, not just any scroll.
It’s a mundanite scroll. The same one he had given Aventurine
“Mister…?”
He snapped out of his thoughts when a little girl with brown hair and green eyes approached him.
“Um…my friend lost something important to him have you seen it?”
The little girl asked nervously, as she fiddled with the helm of her skirt.
With a gentle tone of voice, he replied.
“What seems to be missing, little girl?”
“It looks like a strange looking bottle? With a good coloured mask stuck on it! Our friend, he always wears it around his neck. He says someone important to him gave it to him, so we are looking for it. “
The little girl’s eyes suddenly lit up and pointed to the owl mask on his shoulder.
“The mask on the bottle…it looks like the thing on your shoulder!”
He looked at the scroll in his hand and held it out to the little girl in front of him.
“Is this what you seek for?”
The little girl’s eyes lit up immediately upon seeing the mundanite scroll in his hands.
“Yes it is! This is Mr Vasha’s scroll!”
“Mr Vasha?”
“Yes,Mr Vasha will be so happy! This scroll is very important to him, he said a very important friend gave it to him a long while back and he brings it everywhere with him because when he feels sad, he will look at the scroll and he feels happy again!”
The little girl said, holding the scroll tightly as if she’s scared it will disappear from her hands.
“Oh I need to go back to Mr Vasha, with the scroll…do you want to come along? I think he would like to meet the one who found his scroll…”
The little girl offered. Ratio agreed to follow the girl back for her own safety and to meet ‘Mr Vasha’.
—-
At the playground, there were lots of kids surrounding an all too familiar looking man with blonde hair. Ratio recognized the tuft of blonde hair immediately
“Mr Vasha!”
The little girl yelled as she ran to the playground towards where Aventurine was standing.
“Mr Vasha! I found your necklace!”
The little girl said, waving the mundanite scroll infront of him. Aventurine took it from the little girl’s hand and clutched it tightly to his chest like it is his prized possession.
“Thank you so much, Mika. I thought i would never see it again. Where did you find it?”
“I didn’t find it, but the big and tall mister over there did!”
Mika said pointing to Ratio’s direction. Aventurine looked up and immediately froze, recognising who it. The group of children watched as he slowly walked over to Aventurine.
“Ratio…”
Ratio slowly moved towards Aventurine and stopped. The gambler looked a little different, he had swapped out his usual peacockesque outfit for a simple expensive and oversized white blouse and dark blue pants. The expensive jewelries he wore were no where to be seen. His hair is a little messier than usual as well.Around his neck is the mundanite scroll worn as a necklace.
Ratio smiled upon realising his search is over.
“I’ve finally found you, gambler.”
“How did you find me…? “
Ratio was about to reply before the children cut him off with questions such as ‘Are you Mr. Vasha’s friend?’ and ‘Where did you meet him?’ before Aventurine called for them to gather around him as they were going back to the orphanage now and they can ask the doctor questions along the way.
He followed Aventurine back to the Orphanage he was working at. The children walking by his side asking him many strange questions such as his mask, the laurel on his head and his relationship with Mr Vasha.
When they reached the Orphanage, he rallied the children over to wash their hands thoroughly and sent them over to the dining hall.
He watched as Aventurine went inside to help to distribute the food to the children to make sure everyone had something to eat.
Once all of them were eating their dinner, he went over to the nun by the door to inform him that he was leaving for the day.They both slowly walked to Aventurine’s residence which was a 15 minutes walk from the Orphanage.
“Here we are. Welcome to my humble abode.”
Aventurine said, unlocking the front door. Almost immediately he was greeted by one of a baby warp trotter that happily jumped up and down to greet him.
“Lucky! I am home.”
Aventurine said as he hugged the warp trotter and gave it kisses. He turned around and looked at Ratio.
“This is Lucky, a baby warp trotter that I had found when I first came here. The poor little guy had no where to go, so I took him in.”
The warp trotter let out a squeak. Aventurine walked further down and placed Lucky into his living room.
“Take a seat, I’ll make you a cup of coffee.”
“Let me help you.”
“No, you’re my guest today. Plus you must be tired searching the entire day looking for me. Let me at least make you something to drink.”
Aventurine said, gesturing him to the sofa to take a seat. Ratio took a seat next to Lucky, who was nuzzling his thigh as a form of greeting him. He gave the warp trotter a pat and a scratch on his head eliciting happy oinks from the warp trotter.
Ratio smiled, Lucky had reminded him of Numby.
Suddenly a loud a string of curses can be heard from the kitchen. Quickly, Ratio got up and ran to the kitchen to see what was happening - Aventurine held his hand as he blew on it, trying to cool it down.
“Sorry, hot coffee got onto my hand. Luckily i did not drop the pot or that would be a disaster.”
Ratio quickly took his hand and inspect it before bringing his hand to run it under cold water.
“So…did you come here for vacation? Irini is beautiful and known for its museums that is rich in history, beautiful sculptures and many things you’ll love.”
Aventurine asked.
“No, I came to find you. I had been searching everywhere for you ever since you left Penacony without a word. I must ask you.”
Ratio replied, taking both of Aventurine’s hands.
“Come home with me.”
There was an uncomfortable silence between them. Aventurine looked up in confusion.
“What, what are you talking about, Doctor?”
“I…”
Ratio took a deep breath, trying to explain himself without scarring the gambler away. He had been waiting for this moment to come for a long time.
“I didn’t want our ‘marriage’ back then to end. When you left, there was an emptiness I felt and these feelings that I couldn’t comprehend what they were. Until I found out you were missing from Penacony with the possibility of being dead. I kept searching for you, hoping there was a clue in another planet that you were there. During that time, I regretted never telling you how I felt on the day you left and how much you meant to me. I told myself, if I see you again, i’ll ask you to come home with me.”
He explained, observing Aventurine’s facial expressions.
Ratio felt his heart shattered a little when Aventurine expression changed to sadness he slowly slipped his hands away from Ratio’s.
“Doc…no, Ratio, i don’t know but I can’t.”
Aventurine said apprehensively and took a seat at the kitchen counter. Ratio followed him to the table.
“Please, hear me out first.”
Ratio nodded.
“Back in Penacony after you left, I had a long thought about going forward with my plan to leave this world and as you can see, it didn’t work. The galaxy ranger, Archeron, sent me to Nihility. She told me there were more things worth living for and learning to find meaning to my own life.”
Aventurine paused, as he took a deep breath and continued.
“I left the moment I woke up. Left as quickly as possible before the IPC found out I am still alive. Once I left Penacony, I realised this is the first time after a long time…I was finally free. Back before Penacony, I bought a house here under another name. I told myself if I managed to escape, I’ll come here.”
Aventurine looked up at Ratio, with a serious look on his face. His expressions are no longer being hidden behind a mask.
“Ratio, I’m sorry for not telling you where I was going and left you in Penacony. I needed time to be on my own again. To understand myself, to think about what I really wanted with the remainder of my life and freedom meant to me.”
The gambler slowly made his way to a drawer, took out a small box and brought it to Ratio. He opened the box and inside, it was ‘wedding’ ring.
“Did you know? I never wanted our ‘marriage’ to end as well. In fact the year we were together, it was the happiest I had been in a very long time. Deep down and many times, I wished that you would ask me to marry you for real so that we could be a real married couple living together. However, I know it’s not possible, Diamond will definitely not approve it and the Intelligentsia Guild will wonder why you would marry a lowly Sigonian slave who is just a tool to the IPC.”
Aventurine let out a self deprecating laugh, wiping off the tears from the corner of his eyes.
“It’s funny isn’t it? So many times I wished that you would ask me to marry you, to come home with you. Yet when you did, I…I couldn’t accept it. Marriage is a serious commitment. One, where I am not ready yet and I don’t know if I will ever be ready for it.”
Aventurine watched as Ratio stood against his countertop quietly. He knew what would happen next - Ratio will be so disappointed, he will call him a liar or perhaps a Sigonian thrall that does not deserve any love. How he wasted his time coming here for him, take his bag and storm out of the door.
He waited for that moment to come but it never did.
Instead, Aventurine mustered up the courage and took Ratio’s hands. He held it tight, forlornly and gently thumbing the empty left ring finger where his ‘wedding’ ring used to be.
“Veritas, you are a good person. I think I am lucky enough to have you in my life and even luckier to have you wanting me to be the person to spend the rest of your life with. But…I don’t know if I will ever be ready for it. I may never be or I may take a long time.”
Aventurine took a deep breath, focusing on the sound of rain to calm down.
“Don’t wait for me, Veritas. If you find someone that you love and are better than i am. Go after them, maybe they will make you happier than I ever could. If it happens, do invite me to your wedding ceremony.”
Aventurine said, as he slowly let go of his hands. He waited for Ratio to respond but once again, Ratio remained silent. A few minutes passed and he finally asked:
“It’s raining heavily tonight, may I stay in your guest room?”
—-
They said their goodnights and Ratio closed the door behind him, placing his bag on the floor.
He knew he couldn’t give his response to Aventurine right now as he knew that it could easily destroy any hope of them having a good relationship even as friends.
He simply lay down in bed, feeling exhausted and disappointed yet he understood Aventurine’s reasoning. Aventurine did not have it easy from his life in Sigonia as an Avgin to getting enslaved to becoming a Ten Stoneheart to finally getting the freedom he yearned for so many years.
Simply wanting him to marry him once more was as good as throwing him back into a gilded cage.Ratio never wanted to take away his hard fought and new found freedom from him.
Yet, he couldn’t shake off the feeling of pinning for him. He didn’t know what to do now with these feelings. He thought of the day these feelings were brought to light to him - the day Aventurine’s mission completed and they don’t have to pretend to be married anymore.
“ Well I guess this is goodbye.”
Aventurine said, as he moved his luggage to the front door.
“It’s a pity that it has to end, I was enjoying living with another person.”
He added on, as he checked his luggage.
“You can always stay a a little longer, I don’t mind it.”
Ratio suggested. Deep down. He wanted to ask Aventurine if could just stay and not move out. They don’t have to end their marriage.
Perhaps they could even marry for real, Ratio thought.
Aventurine paused for a while, before he replied.
“No, it’s better if I go, Diamond or Jade may get suspicious if I am not back in my apartment after the mission ends.”
After a while, Aventurine got up and stretched. Satisfied that everything has been packed.
“Oh, Doctor. I left two homemade tiramisus for you in the freezer…remember to eat them.”
“Alright.”
There was a heavy silence between them, Ratio took a deep breath and took his luggage.
“Let me help you to bring this to the car.”
“Doctor…”
He looked at Aventurine, he could tell the gambler was reluctant to move out and he wanted to stay.
Yet he couldn’t.
Aventurine looked at him with his usual smile.
“It’s nothing, I forgot what I wanted to say.”
Ratio placed a hand over his forehead, he decided to just prepare to head to bed instead and think over it the next morning.
—-
The next morning, both of them did not speak of what happened last night. They had went about their things in the morning and Ratio had decided to stay on Irini for a vacation. Aventurine had offered him to be his tour guide around Irini
Aventurine had brought him to the museums where they spent time admiring the various sculptures and paintings. Aventurine showing off the knowledge he had gained the past few months about art. He took Ratio to the night market where they sold street food and crafts made by the local. Ratio had bought a few mini sculptures to bring home and they tried a few of the street food together.
Aventurine also brought him the Orphanage to spend time with the children.
He worked as a caretaker at an Orphanage now, a far cry from his days at the IPC. He watched as Aventurine spent time reading stories to kids, take them out for play time and coax them to sleep during nap time. Aventurine had told him how the orphaned children reminded him of himself and how he wanted them to have a good childhood, not the one he had went through.
The children at the orphanage loved Mr Vasha a lot and one of them refused to leave with her new parents until she got to see him one last time. The nuns at the orphanage had told him how he had donated around 20 million credits to the orphanage just so they could upgrade the facilities and provide better food and things for the orphans leaving there.
The nuns expressed how grateful they were for such a large sum of donation and how he chose to work as a caretaker as well. He sat at a bench with his book as he watched Aventurine played ball with the kids.
He looked genuinely happy and more carefree than he was with the IPC where he could tell at times when Aventurine came home feeling tired or frustrated at times. He wondered how Aventurine got by through those nights before he started living with him.
“Big mister?”
He was brought out of his thoughts when a little boy stood in front of him with the ball.
“Do you want to play with us? Mr Vasha says you should put your book away and come play with us.”
He looked up. He saw Aventurine and the rest of the children looking at him with pleading eyes.
“Sorry Doctor, but they want to play a game that needs one more player! Join us just this once?”
He looked at Aventurine and the rest of the children.
“Please, Mister…?”
The little boy in front of him pleaded.
He sighed and closed his book. He placed it on the bench and stood up. The children cheered happily.
“YAY! We can play The Captain’s Ball now!”
“I want to be in the big mister’s team!”
“I want to be in Big Mister’s team too! He is big and strong! We will definitely win.”
“But if we all go to big mister, who is going to be in Mr Vasha’s team?”
Aventurine and Ratio laughed as the children argued who should be on whose team. In the end, they split themselves evenly and played a few rounds of captain’s ball. The games were filled with laughter and children working together to strategise their games and both Aventurine and Ratio offering some suggestions.
It has been a very long while since Ratio played children’s games like these. Ever since he had enrolled into Veritas Prime university to pursue knowledge, his life had been focused on pursuing knowledge.
He smiled and laughed, whenever the children scored a goal, giving them praises and encouragement when needed.
However, their game was cut short when one of the players, a little girl fell and injured her knee. As she started to cry from her injury, some of the children started to blame each other for causing the injury and a fight almost broke out if Aventurine did not intervene, while Ratio went over to the girl and examined her knee.
“I’ll bring her to the first aid room to treat her knee. Why don’t you let the children play other games first?”
Ratio suggested as he carried the little girl into his arms. Aventurine nodded and rallied the children together. He carried the girl and went to find the orphanage’s nurse room. Once inside, he placed the girl on one of the beds and grabbed the first aid kit. He examined her knee and sighed in relief when he realised it was just a scrap across the knee. He took some clean water and a clean washcloth. He cleaned the wound and let it dry.
“Let me know if it hurts, okay?”
The little girl nodded.
He took a sterile gauze and patted the wound dry, checking with the little girl if it hurts, in which she shook her head.
“Big mister?”
“Yes?”
“Mr Vasha calls you Doctor…are you a doctor?”
“Yes, I am one.”
“Then…do you save people’s lives everyday?”
Ratio paused for a while to think of how he should answer as he poured some anti bacterial ointment onto a cotton pad.
“In a way, yes. Yes I do save people’s lives everyday.”
“Wow…that must be why Mr Vasha likes you so much!”
The answer made him accidentally press the cotton bud into the wound too hard which lead to the little girl wincing. He quickly apologized and took the cotton pad away and threw it away into the nearest waste bin. He went on to search for a bandage.
“Mister…do you like Mr Vasha?”
He froze at that question, he thought for a moment before he answered back.
“Do you like Mr Vasha?”
The little girl nodded happily.
“I do! Mr Vasha is the best!”
“What do you like about him?”
“Mr Vasha is kind, he always takes us out for adventures to the park and he plays with us! One time he even brought new toys and books for all of us and he even reads stories to us! When we are sad thinking no one will adopt us, he always cheers us up and told us not to give up, one day someone will adopt us. Oh and Mr Vasha has beautiful eyes too!”
Ratio smiled at how the little girl described him which was a far cry from the usual prejudiced description that people talk about him.
“Mister…do you not like Mr. Vasha?”
“What makes you say that?”
“Because…I think Mr Vasha really likes you. Did you know? The necklace on his neck, whenever any of us ask him about it, he would talk how important it is to him and when one of us asked who gave it to him, he says it is from someone who he loves dearly and wants him to keep moving forward in life. He says he misses them but is too afraid to talk to them.”
Ratio kept quiet, processing what the little girl had just told him as he bandaged her knee.
“So Mister…do you like Mr Vasha?”
“I do, I like him very much.”
“What do you like about him?”
Ratio thought for awhile before answering.
“He is very smart. He is smarter than many people that I know. Did you know? Mr Vasha once outsmarted two groups of bad people into thinking that there is a treasure in the desert and made them lose a lot of money.”
“Woah….”
The little girl said in awe, as Ratio continued to wrap the bandage around her knee.
“He is very brave and strong, braver and stronger than anyone I knew. Mr Vasha didn’t come from the happiest place, he came from a very harsh planet and fought hard to get to where he is today. Many times along the way, he had every reason to give up but he didn’t.He does not know this but…I am proud that he came this far. And…”
Ratio secured the bandaged on the girl’s knee.
“He makes me happy…I am happy I got to know him in this life. That’s why I searched for Mr Vasha for a long time and I finally found him here.”
Ratio said as he smiled to himself, the little girl was about to ask more question when he heard someone clearing their throat. Aventurine emerged from behind the wall next to the entrance and walked over to them.
“How is everything?”
He said as he knelt down to check on the little girl.
“It’s just a minor scrape on the knee, it will get better in a few days.”
Ratio replied as he kept the items back into the first aid box and put it back into the cabinet above.
“Alright, it’s time for us to go for dinner. Let’s go!”
Aventurine said as he carried the little girl in his arms.
“I will meet you at the entrance, we too should head home for dinner.”
Ratio said and Aventurine nodded as the gambler walked out with the little girl in his arms.
—-
When they reached home in the evening, they cooked and have dinner together. After that, they just spent some time watching one of those crappy tv shows until they get tired. They did not talk much while watching the show like they used to. He felt Aventurine place his head on his shoulders, feeling tired for the day.
When he felt Aventurine was asleep, he turned off the television and carried him back to his room. The action of putting him down on the bed had woke him up.
“Ratio?”
“Hmm?”
Aventurine had gently grabbed the helm of his sleeve.
“Stay?”
Ratio nodded, as he took the other side of the bed.
He reached out and gently combed through the gambler’s messy blonde locks, he remembered the first time they shared a bed in their ‘marriage’, it was more to help Aventurine cope with nightmares more than anything.
“ I thought you said that in this marriage, we must never share a bed or any form of intimacy together to make sure it will be easier for us to divorce when the time comes.”
Aventurine said as he watched Ratio rearrange his bedroom. The doctor had suggested that he tried sharing a bed with him to see if his nightmares would get better.
“I am suggesting this to help you with your nightmares, have you seen how deep your dark eye circles have gotten? I have heard you screaming in the middle of the night as well. You are due for a healthy sleep cycle.”
Ratio said as he added a little bit of essential oil to the extra pillow and gestured Aventurine to come in.
“We’ll try other methods first before I give you sleep aids if it does not work.”
Aventurine placed his head on the soft pillow and a wave of lavender scent hit his nostril immediately, causing him to lift his head from the pillow immediately.
“Sorry, the scent was really strong.”
He said sheepishly as he slowly placed his head back down onto the pillow, slowly taking a deep breath.
“Lavender is suppose to help you calm down and aid you to sleep.”
Ratio said, laying down on his pillow as well, facing him.
“Sleep well, if you wake up from a nightmare, I’ll be here.”
He said, Aventurine let out a yawn as he slowly closed his eyes. Ratio grabbed a book to do his nightly reading before heading to bed.
“What are you thinking about?”
Ratio immediately snapped out of his thoughts when he saw Aventurine looked at him tiredly. His own hands are still on his hair.
The gambler asked, as he scooted closer to him.
“The time we started sleeping together because of your nightmares. Do you still get them?”
Ratio said shifting his hands downwards so that it was cupping one side of the gambler’s cheeks. Aventurine placed a hand over his and let out a sigh.
“Sometimes, when I just moved here, they were very frequent. Now, only sometimes. Sister Galene from the orphanage offered to put in a prayer for my nightmares to end but I don’t think any amount could ever put them to an end.”
Aventurine closed his eyes, savouring the moment.
“Ratio…can I hug you?”
“I don’t see why not.”
Aventurine shifted closer to him. Ratio lay on his back, as the gambler wrapped his arms around him and placed his head on his chest.
“I don’t have any nightmares tonight but just listening to your heartbeat makes it easier to fall asleep sometimes…”
Aventurine said, letting out a yawn.
“That’s good to hear…”
Ratio said,combing his messy blonde hair as his own eyelids began to grow heavy.
A few minutes passed and one of them finally spoke.
“Ratio, did you mean what you said in the first aid room…?
Aventurine asked, drawing little circles on his chest. Ratio looked at him for a moment.
“Sorry, I wanted to check up on the two of you but I overheard the whole conversation.”
Aventurine explained.
“ I meant every word that I told the little girl, I would have kept searching for you, until one day I found you.”
“Topaz and Jade told you that I was dead…why didn’t you believe them?”
“Only once I see your corpse, then I will stop searching for you and accept that I can’t reach you anymore.”
“Why would you keep searching for me?”
Ratio at that moment felt brave and gently placed a kiss on his forehead. Aventurine didn’t move away but Ratio heard his breath hitch.
“…it’s because I love you.”
Ratio responded, expecting Aventurine to let go of him immediately. It did not come.
“I…”
“You don’t need to tell me anything now, take all the time that you need. When you are ready, I will always be waiting for you.”
Aventurine nodded. They remained like this for a while in comfortable silence.Ratio closed his eyes letting sleep takeover. In his last moments of being awake, he swore he heard something said to him softly.
“I think…I love you too.”
——
The one week passed by and it was time for Ratio to head back to home.
Aventurine had driven him all the way to the shuttle station that day. The whole car ride, they remained silent most of the time, occasionally making conversations about anything they could think of.
When they reached the station, it was about 45 minutes before the shuttle gate was opened.
“Will you come back to visit?”
Aventurine asked.
“I could during the school term breaks, I will pack more things this time.”
Ratio answered.
“How is Topaz and Jade…? Have they been well?”
Aventurine asked.
“They are busy as usual, I did not interact with them very often. However, Topaz brings you up sometimes, saying Numby misses you too.”
Ratio replied.
“Before I go, I want you to have this. Please open it when you reach home.”
Ratio said, taking out a blue coloured square box with a white ribbon with gold linings and handing it to Aventurine.
“A farewell gift? Did you buy me another guide on Kitchen Safety?”
Aventurine teased, as he took the box.
Aventurine was about to say something else when the announcement about the shuttle gate was opened and all passengers may begin boarding.
They both looked at each other once more, it was just like few years ago at the end of their ‘marriage’ where neither wanted to leave but they have to.
Except it was Ratio who was leaving this time.
“Take care, Doctor.”
“Take very good care of yourself, Gambler. I don’t need you to worry about me.”
Ratio said, picking up his bag and made his way towards the gate. When he reached the gantry, he turned around once more and saw the gambler waving to him goodbye. Instead of the usual smile that’s always plastered on his face, Ratio saw there was sadness hiding behind it. He waved the gambler goodbye as he passed through the gantry and made his way to his boarding station.
—-
Aventurine watched as Ratio passed through the gate to the Shuttle waiting for him. Once he was gone, Aventurine clutched the box tightly to his chest and made his way to his car.
Once he was home, he immediately took a hot shower and prepared to go to bed alone once more. He took the box that Ratio gave him and placed it on the bed. He watched as Lucky stared brightly at the ring letting out a soft curious meow.
He opened it.
It was a ring. Aventurine’s eyes widened, it was not just any ring. It was the ring that Aventurine had seen with Ratio while shopping for a simple ring as proof of their ‘marriage.’
“ Ooh, this one is pretty…”
“That is too expensive, gambler.”
Ratio said looking at the ring and then the price. The ring had a green aventurine and bentonite on it, both forming an intricate leaf pattern around the ring.
“Well we are shopping for an engagement ring, why not pick this one?”
“We will be divorcing right after your mission finishes, there is no point spending an absurd amount on jewelry that will not be worn after a year.”
Ratio said, picking up a simple wedding band to inspect it.
“So doctor, if you do get married in the future, will the missus get an expensive wedding band?”
Aventurine asked, as he continued to look at the various rings. He did not get his answer, Ratio had called him over to check out the more simpler and affordable wedding bands.
Aventurine examined the ring, it was exactly the ring he had wanted years ago but Ratio had told him how he would not spend such an exorbitant amount of money on a ring that it will only be worn for a year.
So why did he give him this ring?
He looked upon heard Lucky squeaking upon seeing another a letter folded neatly and on it had a cursive handwriting that belonged to Ratio
To: Kakavasha
He carefully unfolded the letter and read it.
You once asked me: if you do get married in the future, will the missus get an expensive wedding band?
The cost of the ring does not matter, what matters is the what it means to a person. I hope this ring serves as a reminder that if you want to come home, there’s someone that’s waiting for you.
When you are ready, come back home wearing the ring. We will have the wedding you always wanted.
I’ll wait for you.
If you ever find someone else who could make you happier than I could. You can still keep the ring, please invite me to your wedding, I will be more than happy to be your witness.
As long as you are happy, so will I be.
Veritas.
Aventurine smiled and slipped the ring onto his left ring finger. It fit perfectly, like it was always meant to be on his.He raised his hand to admire it.
“What do you think, Lucky? It’s pretty isn’t it?”
Lucky squeaked in agreement.
He cleared the box from his bed and neatly arranged it on top of his wardrobe cabinet. He slipped into bed and gave Lucky a good night kiss. He admired the ring once more and daydreamed about the day.
The day that he will finally go back to Ratio. He will travel to Ratio’s home planet with his luggage and Lucky. Head back to the house that used to be his home for a year.
Ratio would open the door, perhaps give him a tight hug and a welcome home. He will help him unpack his things and they will go about their usual things. They will wake up together, Aventurine preparing breakfast for him and they will eat together. Ratio would head to the university and Aventurine will stay at home with Lucky to do their own things. Once home, they will have dinner, watch TV, play chess or head out for a walk before retiring to bed.
They will also plan their wedding, Aventurine would order a customized suit for the both of them from the wedding shop, he and Ratio would argue about the location of the wedding but eventually settle on one. They could have an extravagant wedding with many guests or a peaceful one with a few close friends.
Aventurine imagined himself slowly walking down the aisle to his soon to be husband. He would be smiling, looking at the side, wishing that his family would be happy to see him marrying the person he loves. He and Ratio reciting their wedding vows and finally being married to the love of his life, sealed with a kiss.
Aventurine smiled at the dream, for now, he still has time and Ratio has promised to wait for him.